Following a string of successful innings at the top of the order,Indian opener Virender Sehwag became the number one Test batsman in the new ICC rankings. Sehwag,though,reiterated that he could have scored more runs if he had played in the middle order and said that he could still bat down the order in Tests in the coming future. Sehwag also said that he would reassess his career and could possibly retire once he reaches the 100 Test milestone. I want to play 100 Test matches and once I have done that,I may retire from Test cricket, said the 76-Test veteran. I have been successful as an opener but who knows,maybe I would have been more successful in the middle order, Sehwag said at a function. I still would like to bat in the middle order. Its difficult to field for one-and-a-half days and then come out to bat in 10 minutes. When you bat at number six like (Mahendra Singh) Dhoni,it allows you some rest, Sehwag added. Sehwag said that his ideal batting position was number four in Test matches,but he was willing to wait until Sachin Tendulkar retired. I would love to bat at number four. I know I would not get that till Sachin retires, he said,adding,But I can wait. Speaking about his batting style,Sehwag said that he would never become a defensive player as he feels that his technique is not good enough. People say I take too many risks. But the fact is,there is risk involved in every shot. You can get out trying to defend a ball as well, he said,adding,In my case,it would become risky if I try to become defensive,since my technique is not that good. Scoring runs is important Smashing fours and sixes is more enjoyable than scoring centuries,according to Sehwag. More than hitting centuries,hittings 6s and 4s gives me more pleasure. Scoring runs is more important. The other day I was chatting with (coach) Gary Kirsten who said why not take singles (when approaching a century)? I said I want to clear the ropes. Sehwag said that the format of the game,too,does not make a difference to him. I think in a different way. When I was growing up,I tried to score off every ball,be it a 10-over-match,a 20-over or even a Test match. If I stay in the wicket for say about 30 minutes,I want to make the most of it and score maximum runs possible. You never know when you get out,try to score as much as possible before that, he said. Wicket will be batting friendly Jaipur: With a batting-friendly wicket on offer,a high scoring encounter is on the cards when India take on South Africa in the first one-dayer at the Sawai Man Singh stadium on Sunday. The curators Ashok Joshi and Taposh Chatterjee say they have made a batting wicket for the opener which will set the tone for the three-match series. There is no doubt that it would be a fine batting wicket. People come to watch runs in ODIs and we wont disappoint them, Joshi said. Chatterjee said the surface would be ideal for strokeplay. We had watered it adequately and we are rolling it to help it dry. A little bit of evaporation and rolling pulls out the moisture from underneath. It makes the surface such that the ball comes on to the bat, he said. PTI
